Rolling Stone pulls controversial Michael Bloomberg article

7/10/14 2:45 PM EDT

Rolling Stone has removed an article about former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg that has drawn criticism from Colorado Republicans.

In the article, titled "Michael Bloomberg Isn't Afraid of the NRA," the former mayor says some of the state's districts are so "rural" that they may not have roads.

“In Colorado, we got a [gun control] law passed," Bloomberg tells Rolling Stone. "The NRA went after two or three state senators in a part of Colorado where I don’t think there’s roads. It's as far rural as you can get."

Colorado Republicans immediately seized on the remarks and criticized Bloomberg for being "out of touch."

“Pueblo is a proud city composed of proud people from all different walks of life, and, while it might be hard for a New York billionaire to comprehend, we do, in fact, have roads and running water,” State Sen. George Rivera, who represents Colorado's 3rd District, said in a statement. “I promise the people of Pueblo I will never sit idly by as outsiders insult our outstanding community.”

State Sen. Bernie Herpin, of Colorado's 11th, also criticized Bloomberg.

“It’s no surprise that Mayor Bloomberg is so out of touch with Coloradans, but it is disgusting the lengths he is willing to go to disparage those who believe in protecting our Second Amendment rights," Herpin said, in part.

Several conservatives also hit Bloomberg on Twitter and accused him of characterizing Colorado Springs as "a roadless Third World backwater."

Melissa Bruno, the publicity director for Rolling Stone publisher Wenner Media, did not immediately respond to a request for comment regarding the removal of the article. We will update here if and when we hear back.

UPDATE (3:00 p.m.): Sources familiar with the incident tell us that Rolling Stone was scheduled to publish the piece on Monday, July 14, but accidentally published it early. Bloomberg press representatives alerted Rolling Stone to the mistake and it was taken down. The piece will be published again, in its entirety and without change, on Monday.

“Not since New Jersey Governor Chris Christie attacked Colorado's way of life [over marijuana legalization] has an east coaster gotten us so wrong,” Udall spokesman James Owens emailed. “Christie and Bloomberg should stick to what they know best: traffic jams and tiny sodas. Mayor Bloomberg is way off base about Pueblo and Colorado Springs, two of Colorado's strongest and proudest communities.”